Shooting a film based on a comic is no development of this century. Spawn-Creator Todd McFarlane e.g. came up with that idea in 1997. He was one of the people who were responsible for a very embarrassing action flick, which is an insult to the franchise. The character Spawn, who's very brutal in the comics, is obviously leashed. Furthermore we've got John Leguizamo as Clown, who's pretty dreadful and annoying, and a Devil who looks like a CGI dog. Generally this flick is free of any suspense or surprises and the showdown in (CGI) hell is the awful highlight. Even for 1997 the CGI's ancient. One can just hope that there will be another, better film in the future.

Another aspect for the failure of the film was the studio's decision to edit the Theatrical Version of the movie to get a PG-13 rating (for thematic elements involving the demonic underworld, violence, intense fantasy action and crude humor). As a result of that the Theatrical Version includes almost none of the onscreen violence and some oneliners were also cut. This version wasn't even released in the USA on DVD but for some reason it was released in Germany (with an "FSK 16" rating). It is highly probably that this version is based on the Uncut US Theatrical Cut which was also released in Germany (with an "FSK 18" rating). Undoubted the DC is the harder version because it contains the scenes that were cut for PG-13 and it contains some alternate, more explicit footage as well. A perfect example for the studio's effort to make the film suitable for a younger audience.

Additional scene in the Theatrical CutTC: 0:01:17: The worker in the tower is shown for a couple of frames.
+ 0,48 sec

censorship0:01:19: Simmons shoots several workers. Then a cut to him.
2,84 sec

censorship0:01:23: Close-up of an airport employee who gets shot. (The first shot of the exploding panels begins one frame earlier in the TC.)
0,76 sec

Alternate footageTC: 0:01:21
DC: 0:01:29: Further shot in the DC that shows Simmons execute the guys, they drop dead. The TC shows the footage that was cut before (Simmons shoots and lowers his gun).
The DC is 2.8 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Additional scene0:02:12: The DC contains a shot of Simmons' interface identifies a further passenger.
2,56 sec

censorship0:02:56: A shot of the dead employees which doesn't pop up in the TC.
1,28 sec

censorship 0:02:59: The DC shows the dead employees in a room before the detonation.
0,88 sec

Alternate footageTC: 0:02:48
DC: 0:03:01: Here's a smart one: the DC also cuts to the corpses, the TC just shows the inner view for a longer period.
The DC is 0.48 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 0:11:25
DC: 0:11:39: The TC makes that scene look like the guard goes down after being hit once. In the DC Simmons hits him several times and breakes his neck which can be heard very well btw.
The DC is 3.76 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 0:12:15
DC: 0:12:33: The long shot of Simmons' getting shot only appears in the DC. The TC shows him being shot in his chest instead.
No difference

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 0:12:40
DC: 0:13:03: In the DC the scene, where Simmons gets splattered with some flamable liquid, is extended. The TC shows Wynn saying that he was supposed to enjoy the retirement, which appears in the DC, too, but only in the off.
The DC is 3.12 sec longer

Alternate footageTC: 0:13:07
DC: 0:13:29: Both versions contain exclusive footage here. The DC shows an explicit shot of Simmons. He burns and yells his wife's name. The TC shows Wynn and Priest passing a corridor. Wynn uses a device for the detonation.
The TC is 3.8 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

censorship0:13:36: Closer shot of Simmons, who falls on the ground while he's burning, in the DC.
1,56 sec

Extended scene0:14:01: The camera shot that ends with Simmons, begins earlier in the DC.
3,88 sec

Extended scene TCTC: 0:16:12: A dialog is missing in the DC. Zack says to Simmons that he'd already seen worse faces because his father had washed corpses for a living. Simmons thanks him and adds that he could be glad if Zack said so.
+ 12,08 sec

Additional scene0:21:57: This sexual reference was apparently too much for a PG-13. Clown holds some cake in front of Simmons' face and presses it so that white creme appears. He also asks him what that reminded him of and tells him to think about it.
2,96 sec

censorship0:23:24: Of course the flashback of Simmons' death is also cut. Simmons burns, Wynn salutes and wants him to greet hell. Simmons yells for his wife while he's burning, after that everything around him explodes.
5,08 sec

censorship0:58:14: Zack and his father are scared, they're standing in front of Violator.
0.96 sec

0:58:17: Further shot of Spawn looking up to Violator in the DC. But this one's not counted because later, it also appears in the TC.

censorship0:58:20: The Violator holds Zack's father as a hostage. First a close-up and then how he hits his head twice.
2.8 sec

Addtional scene0:58:24: Shot of Zack, who looks very shocked, in the DC. The next shot of Violator is extended for a couple of frames.
1.08 sec

Additional scene in the Theatrical Cut0:57:26: Zack kneeing next to his father.
+ 1.12 sec

censorship1:00:43: A couple of frames more of Violator lifting up Spawn.
0.36 sec

Alternate footageTC: 0:58:37
DC: 0:59:45: Alternate footage due to censorship: The TC shows Spawn hitting a fence. The DC shows a close-up which reveals that there are lots of spikes and Spawn dashes against them.
No difference

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

censorship0:59:55: Extended scene of Spawn at the fence in the DC.
1.52 sec

censorship1:00:00: The tracking shot is shorter in the TC.
1.8 sec

Extended scene1:00:14: Clown adds: "I could have killed you like that *snap*!"
1.32 sec

Alternate footageTC: 0:59:05
DC: 1:00:18: Different shot of Clown talking to Spawn. In the Dc he also says: "Gosh, you look like crap!"
The DC is 2.2 sec longer

Alternate footageTC: 0:59:37
DC: 1:02:00: Clown: "Last one there gets her rotten eggs. Ha ha ha ha! Wynn and Wanda sitting in a tree, s-u-c-k-i-n-g.". The TC shows footage of Spawn hanging at the fence. When Clown leaves and Cogliostro goes to Spawn, both versions are different. Probably because of Clown's singing some sexual stuff in the DC.
The DC is 2.8 sec longer

Extended sceneTC: 1:01:09
DC: 1:02:34: Same here. In the TC Zack talks to his father about the ambulance. In the DC a medic checks his pulse and puts him in a blanket. That means his father seems to survive in the TC but die in the DC.
The DC is 2.36 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 1:09:50
DC: 1:11:18: In the TC Wynn stands in front of Terry and tells him that he was disappointed of him. In the DC he hits him, then a shot of Wanda taking her daughter.
The DC is 2.36 sec longer

Alternate footageTC: 1:09:55
DC: 1:11:26: This scene is slightly different, too. The main difference is Terry holding his cheek for a longer period in the DC, he does not in the TC.
The DC is 0.88 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Extended scene1:11:34: Wynn threatens Wanda with his gun. Terry wants to help and says: "Hey..."
Wynn: "You're a very lucky man, Terrence."
Then he points his gun at Terry.
10.4 sec

Alternate footageTC: 1:12:18
DC: 1:13:59: In the TC Wanda's eyes are foggy violet, in the DC they aren't.
No difference

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 1:12:21
DC: 1:14:02: Same here.
No difference

Alternate footageTC: 1:12:23
DC: 1:14:04: The TC shows Wynn threating Wanda to slice her throat. The DC shows Wynn, then Wanda with the knife at the throat. Furthermore there's more dialog:
Spawn: "Get away from her."
Wynn: "I can't do that. She wants me."
The DC is 6.72 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 1:12:30
DC: 1:14:16: Close-up of Wynn playing with the knife in front of Wanda's face. The TC shows the shot which has been cut before.
The DC is 0.54 sec longer

censorship1:14:20: Additional shot of Wanda with the knife in front of her face. Wynn adds to his threat to kill Wanda: "After I'm done."
1.88 sec

Alternate footageTC: 1:12:39
DC: 1:14:27: The TC shows Wynn mentioning that they're running out of time. The DC shows him and then Wanda again with the knife in front of her face.
The DC is 0.52 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 1:12:41
DC: 1:14:30: Different shot of Wanda in the TC. She doesn't have the knife in front of the face. In the DC she still does.
No difference

Alternate footageTC: 1:12:46
DC: 1:14:36: Different shot of Spawn's eyes. In the DC his eyes are glowing green, in the TC they aren't. Plus a more explicit shot of Wynn stabbing Wanda.
The DC is 0.48 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Extended scene in the Theatrical CutTC: 1:14:52: Spawn comes closer to the stabbed Wanda. Furthermore her wound gleams which happens later in the DC.
+ 0.84 sec

Alternate footageTC: 1:13:32
DC: 1:15:21: The TC continues the shot of Spawn kicking Wynn. In the DC the shot's replaced by a close-up of kicking his head.
The DC is 0.24 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 1:13:45
DC: 1:15:35 The TC continues the shot of Spawn kicking Wynn. In the DC the shot's replaced by Terry being gagged with a sex toy.
The DC is 0.36 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

censorship1:15:50: Wynn moves a lot more while he's burning.
1.4 sec

censorship1:15:53: Again the burning Wynn.
0.8 sec

Alternate footageTC: 1:14:23
DC: 1:16:16: The TC shows Cyan being bound at the chair from the distance, she looks normal. The DC contains a close-up, she's got tears in her eyes and she looks scared. This shot is followed by another one of Wynn's face.
The DC is 1.4 sec longer

Theatrical Cut

Director's Cut

Alternate footageTC: 1:14:27
DC: 1:16:22: Now the shot of Wynn in the TC, a further shot of Cyan's tear-stained face.
No difference